The Speaker designated the Honorable Candice S. Miller to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

9:00:20 A.M.

Today's prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.

9:01:00 A.M.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL - The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day's proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Pitts demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Pitts objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.

9:02:00 A.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - The Chair designated Mr. Poe of TX to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

9:03:31 A.M.

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES - The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.

9:15:00 A.M.

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed S. 1958.

9:15:20 A.M.

H. Res. 487

Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 487 — "Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1633) to establish a temporary prohibition against revising any national ambient air quality standard applicable to coarse particulate matter, to limit Federal regulation of nuisance dust in areas in which such dust is regulated under State, tribal, or local law, and for other purposes."

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H. Res. 487, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Polis (CO) demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on ordering the previous question until later in the legislative day.

9:50:46 A.M.

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

10:30:00 A.M.

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 8.

10:30:30 A.M.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on ordering the previous question and adoption of H. Res. 487, a motion to suspend the rules, and adoption of the Speaker's approval of the Journal, all of which had debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

10:31:23 A.M.

H. Res. 487

Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 487 — "Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1633) to establish a temporary prohibition against revising any national ambient air quality standard applicable to coarse particulate matter, to limit Federal regulation of nuisance dust in areas in which such dust is regulated under State, tribal, or local law, and for other purposes."

10:58:46 A.M.

H. Res. 487

On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 241 - 173 (Roll no. 902).

11:04:52 A.M.

H. Res. 487

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 249 - 161 (Roll no. 903).

11:04:53 A.M.

H. Res. 487

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

11:04:59 A.M.

H.R. 1254

Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1254 — "To amend the Controlled Substances Act to place synthetic drugs in Schedule I."

11:12:03 A.M.

H.R. 1254

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 317 - 98 (Roll no. 904).

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 487. H.R. 1633 — "To establish a temporary prohibition against revising any national ambient air quality standard applicable to coarse particulate matter, to limit Federal regulation of nuisance dust in areas in which such dust is regulated under State, tribal, or local law, and for other purposes."

11:18:47 A.M.

H.R. 1633

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1633 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the bill; proivdes that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Energy and Commerce shall be considered as original text for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read. Further it waives all points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.

11:19:18 A.M.

H.R. 1633

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 487 and Rule XVIII.

11:19:19 A.M.

H.R. 1633

The Speaker designated the Honorable Steve Womack to act as Chairman of the Committee.

11:19:27 A.M.

H.R. 1633

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1633.

12:22:03 P.M.

H.R. 1633

An amendment, offered by Mr. Rush, numbered 1 printed in House Report 112-317 to clarify that nothing in the bill precludes the EPA Administrator from enforcing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM2.5 and would delete section 3, which allows the EPA to regulate `nuisance dust' in areas where states and localities do not do so if it substantially hurts public health and if the benefits of applying standards would outweigh the costs.

12:22:23 P.M.

H.R. 1633

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rush amendment.

12:28:35 P.M.

H.R. 1633

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Rush amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Rush demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:29:20 P.M.

H.R. 1633

An amendment, offered by Mrs. Christensen, numbered 2 printed in House Report 112-317 to allow the EPA the authority under the Clean Air Act to step in and take action to reduce dangerous particle pollution if state, local, or tribal laws are not sufficient to protect public health.

12:29:39 P.M.

H.R. 1633

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Christensen amendment.

12:38:17 P.M.

H.R. 1633

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Christensen amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Christensen demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:38:41 P.M.

H.R. 1633

An amendment, offered by Mr. Crawford, numbered 3 printed in House Report 112-317 to direct the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture when modifying National Ambient Air Quality Standards with respect to `nuisance dust' under exceptions provided in Sec. 132(b) of the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011.

12:39:03 P.M.

H.R. 1633

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Crawford amendment.

12:42:12 P.M.

H.R. 1633

On agreeing to the Crawford amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.

12:42:34 P.M.

H.R. 1633

An amendment, offered by Mr. Markey, numbered 4 printed in House Report 112-317 to ensure that particulate matter containing arsenic and other heavy metals that are hazardous to human health is not nuisance dust and remains subject to the Clean Air Act.

12:42:51 P.M.

H.R. 1633

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Markey amendment.

12:50:51 P.M.

H.R. 1633

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Markey amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Markey demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:51:21 P.M.

H.R. 1633

An amendment, offered by Mr. Waxman, numbered 5 printed in House Report 112-317 to require that particulate pollution produced from mining activities is not defined as `nuisance dust' and thus remains subject to the Clean Air Act.

12:51:45 P.M.

H.R. 1633

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waxman amendment.

12:59:28 P.M.

H.R. 1633

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Waxman amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Whitfield demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:59:42 P.M.

H.R. 1633

An amendment, offered by Mr. Flake, numbered 6 printed in House Report 112-317 to add sense of Congress language regarding an approach to excluding so-called `exceptional events' (like massive dust storms that are not controllable or preventable) from determinations of whether an area is in compliance with the coarse particulate matter standard.

1:00:03 P.M.

H.R. 1633

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Flake amendment.

1:05:25 P.M.

H.R. 1633

On agreeing to the Flake amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.

1:05:52 P.M.

H.R. 1633

An amendment, offered by Mr. Schock, numbered 7 printed in House Report 112-317 to require the EPA to take agriculture jobs and the economic impact on the agriculture industry into account before they issue any new regulations relating to agriculture. If a proposed regulation was found to cause the loss of more than 100 agriculturally related jobs or a decrease in more than $1,000,000 in agriculturally related economic activity then EPA would have to give notice to the State's Congressional Delegation, Governor, and Legislature, and also hold a public hearing in the impacted State.

1:05:54 P.M.

H.R. 1633

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Schock amendment.

1:16:05 P.M.

H.R. 1633

On agreeing to the Schock amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.

1:16:29 P.M.

H.R. 1633

An amendment, offered by Mr. Green, Al, numbered 8 printed in House Report 112-317 to require EPA to provide a report of the increase or decrease in the number of jobs as a result of enactment of the bill.

1:16:32 P.M.

H.R. 1633

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Al Green (TX) amendment.

1:26:13 P.M.

H.R. 1633

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Al Green (TX) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Green demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

1:27:06 P.M.

H.R. 1633

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on adoption of amendments which were debated earlier and on which further proceedings were postponed.

1:49:58 P.M.

H.R. 1633

On agreeing to the Rush amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 150 - 255 (Roll no. 906).

1:54:06 P.M.

H.R. 1633

On agreeing to the Christensen amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 159 - 250 (Roll no. 907).

1:57:34 P.M.

H.R. 1633

On agreeing to the Markey amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 165 - 249 (Roll no. 908).

2:00:49 P.M.

H.R. 1633

On agreeing to the Waxman amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 158 - 257 (Roll no. 909).

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1633.

2:05:01 P.M.

H.R. 1633

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

2:05:16 P.M.

H.R. 1633

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

2:06:30 P.M.

H.R. 1633

Ms. DeGette moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce.

2:07:37 P.M.

H.R. 1633

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeGette motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment that adds a new section to the bill to prohibit any part of the bill from limiting the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from proposing, finalizing, implementing, or enforcing any regulation promulgated under the Clean Air Act relating to specified emissions.

2:18:23 P.M.

H.R. 1633

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

2:34:44 P.M.

H.R. 1633

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 166 - 252 (Roll no. 911).

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 470.

2:45:22 P.M.

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES - The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

2:46:24 P.M.

COLLOQUY ON HOUSE SCHEDULE - The Chair recognized Mr. Hoyer for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with Mr. Cantor on the expectations regarding the legislative schedule for the House during the upcoming week.

3:06:58 P.M.

Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That when the House adjourns on Thursday, December 8, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 9, 2011. Agreed to without objection.

3:06:59 P.M.

Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That when the House adjourns on Friday, December 9, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 12 p.m. on Monday, December 12, 2011, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.

3:07:50 P.M.

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES - The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

3:09:14 P.M.

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES - The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

5:15:04 P.M.

Mr. West moved that the House do now adjourn.

5:15:17 P.M.

On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.

5:15:18 P.M.

The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on December 9, 2011.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 249 - 161 (Roll no. 903).

10:58:46 A.M.

On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 241 - 173 (Roll no. 902).

10:31:23 A.M.

Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 487 — "Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1633) to establish a temporary prohibition against revising any national ambient air quality standard applicable to coarse particulate matter, to limit Federal regulation of nuisance dust in areas in which such dust is regulated under State, tribal, or local law, and for other purposes."

9:50:08 A.M.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H. Res. 487, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Polis (CO) demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on ordering the previous question until later in the legislative day.

Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 487 — "Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1633) to establish a temporary prohibition against revising any national ambient air quality standard applicable to coarse particulate matter, to limit Federal regulation of nuisance dust in areas in which such dust is regulated under State, tribal, or local law, and for other purposes."

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 166 - 252 (Roll no. 911).

2:18:23 P.M.

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

2:07:37 P.M.

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeGette motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment that adds a new section to the bill to prohibit any part of the bill from limiting the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from proposing, finalizing, implementing, or enforcing any regulation promulgated under the Clean Air Act relating to specified emissions.

2:06:30 P.M.

Ms. DeGette moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce.

2:05:16 P.M.

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

2:05:01 P.M.

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

2:04:15 P.M.

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1633.

On agreeing to the Waxman amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 158 - 257 (Roll no. 909).

1:57:34 P.M.

On agreeing to the Markey amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 165 - 249 (Roll no. 908).

1:54:06 P.M.

On agreeing to the Christensen amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 159 - 250 (Roll no. 907).

1:49:58 P.M.

On agreeing to the Rush amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 150 - 255 (Roll no. 906).

1:27:06 P.M.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on adoption of amendments which were debated earlier and on which further proceedings were postponed.

1:26:13 P.M.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Al Green (TX) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Green demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

1:16:32 P.M.

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Al Green (TX) amendment.

1:16:29 P.M.

An amendment, offered by Mr. Green, Al, numbered 8 printed in House Report 112-317 to require EPA to provide a report of the increase or decrease in the number of jobs as a result of enactment of the bill.

1:16:05 P.M.

On agreeing to the Schock amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.

1:05:54 P.M.

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Schock amendment.

1:05:52 P.M.

An amendment, offered by Mr. Schock, numbered 7 printed in House Report 112-317 to require the EPA to take agriculture jobs and the economic impact on the agriculture industry into account before they issue any new regulations relating to agriculture. If a proposed regulation was found to cause the loss of more than 100 agriculturally related jobs or a decrease in more than $1,000,000 in agriculturally related economic activity then EPA would have to give notice to the State's Congressional Delegation, Governor, and Legislature, and also hold a public hearing in the impacted State.

1:05:25 P.M.

On agreeing to the Flake amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.

1:00:03 P.M.

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Flake amendment.

12:59:42 P.M.

An amendment, offered by Mr. Flake, numbered 6 printed in House Report 112-317 to add sense of Congress language regarding an approach to excluding so-called `exceptional events' (like massive dust storms that are not controllable or preventable) from determinations of whether an area is in compliance with the coarse particulate matter standard.

12:59:28 P.M.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Waxman amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Whitfield demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:51:45 P.M.

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waxman amendment.

12:51:21 P.M.

An amendment, offered by Mr. Waxman, numbered 5 printed in House Report 112-317 to require that particulate pollution produced from mining activities is not defined as `nuisance dust' and thus remains subject to the Clean Air Act.

12:50:51 P.M.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Markey amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Markey demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:42:51 P.M.

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Markey amendment.

12:42:34 P.M.

An amendment, offered by Mr. Markey, numbered 4 printed in House Report 112-317 to ensure that particulate matter containing arsenic and other heavy metals that are hazardous to human health is not nuisance dust and remains subject to the Clean Air Act.

12:42:12 P.M.

On agreeing to the Crawford amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.

12:39:03 P.M.

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Crawford amendment.

12:38:41 P.M.

An amendment, offered by Mr. Crawford, numbered 3 printed in House Report 112-317 to direct the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture when modifying National Ambient Air Quality Standards with respect to `nuisance dust' under exceptions provided in Sec. 132(b) of the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011.

12:38:17 P.M.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Christensen amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Christensen demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:29:39 P.M.

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Christensen amendment.

12:29:20 P.M.

An amendment, offered by Mrs. Christensen, numbered 2 printed in House Report 112-317 to allow the EPA the authority under the Clean Air Act to step in and take action to reduce dangerous particle pollution if state, local, or tribal laws are not sufficient to protect public health.

12:28:35 P.M.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Rush amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Rush demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:22:23 P.M.

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 487, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rush amendment.

12:22:03 P.M.

An amendment, offered by Mr. Rush, numbered 1 printed in House Report 112-317 to clarify that nothing in the bill precludes the EPA Administrator from enforcing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM2.5 and would delete section 3, which allows the EPA to regulate `nuisance dust' in areas where states and localities do not do so if it substantially hurts public health and if the benefits of applying standards would outweigh the costs.

11:19:27 A.M.

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1633.

11:19:19 A.M.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Steve Womack to act as Chairman of the Committee.

11:19:18 A.M.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 487 and Rule XVIII.

11:18:47 A.M.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1633 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the bill; proivdes that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Energy and Commerce shall be considered as original text for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read. Further it waives all points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.

11:18:42 A.M.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 487. H.R. 1633 — "To establish a temporary prohibition against revising any national ambient air quality standard applicable to coarse particulate matter, to limit Federal regulation of nuisance dust in areas in which such dust is regulated under State, tribal, or local law, and for other purposes."